Nissan and Yokohama launch first-ever Japanese car sharing program with very small EVs

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has announced an ambitious one-way car sharing service with the City of Yokohama that is the first of its kind in Japan to involve significant use of ultra-compact EVs.

Called “Choimobi Yokohama,” this new service, which will be provided in the downtown core of Yokohama, will eventually employ up to 100 units of the Nissan New Mobility Concept ultra-compact electric vehicle (EV) and commences on October 11, 2013. The vehicle is essentially Nissan’s version of the Renault Twizy small electric vehicle.

Choimobi Yokohama is a combined effort between Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and the City of Yokohama as part of the Yokohama Mobility Project Zero program (YMPZ). The YMPZ program is aimed at increasing low-emission transportation options for residents of the city. The Choimobi Yokohama plan is designed to be a one-way car sharing service that enables EVs to be rented from and returned to any of 45 car pickup/return stations that will be located in the downtown core in Yokohama.

The main objectives of the year-long project are to reduce carbon emissions on public roads, improve the quality of transportation in the city, and promote tourism. With support from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Choimobi Yokohama (which means “easy mobility” in Japanese) will begin with the use of 30 units of the Nissan New Mobility Concept and gradually increase that number to approximately 100 units in total.